North Korea has been under a rigid coronavirus blockade since the start of the pandemic in 2020, but with massive Omicron outbreaks in all neighbouring countries, experts said it was only a matter of time before Covid snuck in

Seoul (AFP) - North Korea confirmed its first Covid-19 death on Friday, saying fever was spreading “explosively” nationwide and tens of thousands of people were being isolated after falling sick.

The insular country only reported its first Covid cases Thursday, saying it was moving into a “maximum emergency epidemic prevention system” after patients in the capital Pyongyang tested positive for the Omicron variant.

North Korea has been under a rigid coronavirus blockade since the start of the pandemic in 2020, but with massive Omicron outbreaks in all neighbouring countries, experts said it was only a matter of time before Covid snuck in.

“A fever whose cause couldn’t be identified explosively spread nationwide from late April,” the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

“Six persons died (one of them tested positive for the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron),” it added.

With its 25 million people unvaccinated, North Korea’s crumbling health infrastructure would struggle to deal with a major outbreak, experts say.

“On May 12 alone, some 18,000 persons with fever occurred nationwide and as of now up to 187,800 people are being isolated and treated,” KCNA said.

Leader Kim Jong Un – seen wearing a mask on state TV for the first time – oversaw an emergency meeting of the Politburo on Thursday and ordered nationwide lockdowns in a bid to halt the outbreak.

On Friday, KCNA said Kim visited the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters and “learned about the nationwide spread of Covid-19”.

“It is the most important challenge and supreme task facing our Party to reverse the immediate public health crisis situation at an early date,” KCNA added.

- ‘Major chaos’ -

It is likely the nationwide outbreak is linked to a huge military parade held in Pyongyang on April 25, said Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute.

North Korea was likely to see “major chaos” due to the spread of Omicron, he added, given the country is reporting nearly 20,000 cases a day.

“If the death toll from Omicron spikes, Pyongyang may have to ask for China’s support,” he said.

Beijing, Pyongyang’s sole major ally and benefactor, said Thursday it was ready to assist North Korea.

North Korea has previously turned down offers of Covid vaccines from China, as well as from the World Health Organization's Covax scheme

But China, the world’s only major economy to still maintain a zero-Covid policy, is itself battling multiple Omicron outbreaks – with some major cities, including financial hub Shanghai, under stay-at-home orders.

North Korea has previously turned down offers of Covid vaccines from China, as well as from the World Health Organization’s Covax scheme.

A WHO representative to North Korea said Friday that the UN agency had supported Pyongyang in developing a Covid response plan early last year.

In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol’s new administration offered to send vaccines to the North – but admitted it had not yet discussed this with Pyongyang.

Kim said Friday the outbreak “shows that there is a vulnerable point in the epidemic prevention system” and called for more lockdowns.

He “said that it is the top priority to block the virus’ spread by actively locking down areas and isolating and treating persons with fever in a responsible manner”, KCNA reported.

Analysts said China’s experience with Omicron indicated lockdowns might not be successful, but with no antiviral treatment or vaccines, North Korea has few other options.

- Nuclear distraction -

North Korea test-fired three short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul said Thursday – shortly after Pyongyang confirmed its first cases of Covid.

After high-profile talks collapsed in 2019, North Korea has doubled down on weapons testing, conducting a blitz of launches this year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Satellite imagery indicates North Korea is preparing to conduct a nuclear test, and the United States has warned this could come as soon as this month.

If Pyongyang needs aid – vaccines and medicine – it might need to delay any test, some analysts said, but others warned the Covid-19 outbreak could hasten things.

“A nuclear test would be a good way to distract the public from the pandemic,” Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, told AFP.